8^th DECEMBER 2012

The top two sides in the York Minster Engineering Premier League both scraped home by the odd goal and to reinforce the two horse race theory the chasing pack failed to collect maximum points.

Premier League leaders Dunnington entertained bottom of the League Hamilton Panthers but it was never going to be the one-sided affair it was last August when Dunnington hit nine past the Panthers. Scott Sullivan hit his 16^th league goal of the season to give Dunnington the lead at the interval but second half strikes from Danny Farthing and Mark Willoughby put Panthers in sight of their first win over Dunnington since January 2009. With less than fifteen minutes to go Grant Bulmer levelled for the hosts before Matty Wain secured a 3-2 win for Dunnington in the last five minutes. 

Wigginton were seemingly cruising to their fourth straight win over Selby RSSC as they hit four goals in a ten minute spell midway through the first half from Josh Hutchinson, Lee McQuade (2) and Jack Coates. The visitors reduced the deficit but Hutchinson grabbed his second of the game and McQuade completed his hat-trick and though Selby pulled another goal back, Grasshoppers still led 6-2 at the break.  Selby’s Mathew Muscroft kept the Selby side in the game as he scored twice after the interval to add to his first half brace before Kev Butler hit another Wigginton goal but Selby responded with late goals from Shane Caukill and John Page as Wigginton just held onto their 7-6 lead. 

Third placed Huntington went down 2-0 at Dringhouses with the hosts scoring twice in five minutes midway through the second half, Robin Jefferson hit their opener and Craig McShane their second while Old Malton failed to score on their travels for the first time since April 2010 as they were held to a goalless draw at Easingwold.

York RI,  who have conceded four goals on their previous three visits to Riccall,  led at the interval with goals from Carl Shepherd and Liam Keenaughan but Gaz Roberts and Paul King brought the home side level before Wayne Brooke converted a penalty as Riccall won 3-2. Nick Moss gave struggling Poppleton the lead at Terrington but Jordan Grose and Alex Yeats, both scoring for the third successive game, swung the game in favour of the hosts before Tom Paley secured as 3-1 win for Terrington. Lee Wilmslow hit the only goal of the game as York St Johns beat Rowntrees 1-0 to move the students away from the relegation zone.

Division One leaders Aviva had to settle for just a point from their visit to Tockwith after the sides drew 1-1, Warren Lowe gave the visitors the lead after 10 minutes with Graham Hutchison equalising 10 minutes into the second half. Malton & Norton’s Marcus Godsell scored for the fourth game on the trot when he gave his side an interval lead in their home encounter with Wilberfoss, Paul Hodgson doubled their advantage before Dave Burrows pulled a goal back for Foss but the Ryedale side took all three points as they won 3-1 with Simon Reeves getting a third goal for the hosts. Amotherby recorded back-to-back away wins for the first time since April 2011 as they followed up their win at St Clements with a 2-1 win at Total Sports despite trailing to a Tom Robinson goal, Andy Phillips and John Dunning were on target for Amotherby. Twice Pocklington lead in their home fixture with Hemingbrough but still failed to record a home win over their rivals in four attempts as they conceded three late goals to eventually lose 5-3.  Tom Hughes (2) and James Saltmer netted for Pock while Hemingbrough, who have failed to beat Pock at home in the same period, replied through Luke Zacharenko, Tom Collins and a hat-trick from Jon Wileman.

Fulford are the new leaders In Division Two after their 2-1 win over Cliffe which extended their unbeaten home run to 8 games. Jordan Siswick and Sam Pepper bagged for Fulford with Lee Carter responding for Cliffe. Osbaldwick notched up their first away win of the season with a 3-1 victory at Bishopthorpe despite Ben Jones, the Divisions joint leading goal scorer,  giving Bish the lead inside the first minute. The O’s hit back after the interval through Andrew Bilton, Harry Cartledge and Tom Wheatlands, the other joint top goal scorer. Strensall suffered their heaviest away defeat since April 2008 as they lost 8-1 at Tadcaster Magnets, the home tally was shared between Adam Standridge (2) Phil Smith (2) Josh Tinkler and a Ben Wilson treble with John Cooper getting the Strensall lone reply. After suffering four straight defeats at the beginning of the season the Rawcliffe recovery continues as they inflicted a first home defeat in four on hosts Thorpe, Adam Tessyman’s opening goal for Thorpe was cancelled out by John Moss before Louis Howarth put Rawcliffe in front. Craig Campbell restored parity but Simon Wilson made it 3-2 to Rawcliiffe as they pushed their unbeaten run to four games.

The top-of-the-table clash in Division Three went in favour of current leaders Bishop Wilton who inflicted a first defeat of the season upon local rivals Barmby Moor and extended their unbeaten home run to 13 matches. Both sides converted early penalties,  Greg Nesbitt for Barmby and  Darren Woodhead for the hosts before Rob Eeles scored twice for Bishop Wilton, Simon Houlder pulled a goal back for the visitors but the result was put beyond doubt two minutes from time with a Tom Knowles penalty who maintains his amazing run of scoring for the 9^th game on the trot. It was also Bishop Wilton’s first win over Barmby in 9 meetings. Civil Service and F1 Racing remain in the promotion race as they both hit nine goals past their respective hosts, George Trifian (scoring for the sixth game on the bounce) and Neil Yeowart each scored four times for F1 Racing  in their 9-2 win at Selby Olympia, Rich Proctor completed the F1 tally with Shaun Gandy and Darren Pool replying for the hosts. Civil Service comfortably maintained their unbeaten start to the season as Simon Windle (3) Michael Quinn (2) Chris Smith (2) Gareth Srain and Craig Theaker all found the net at Huby. Simon Hogbin hit the solitary Huby reply. Steve Gagen scored twice for Rufforth in their 3-1 home win over Ouseburn, James Everhard  had earlier equalised for Rufforth. Elvington chalked up their fourth consecutive   away draw as they shared the spoils in the bottom-of the table clash at Crayke. The hosts led through a Tom Hilling brace before the Harriers replied with goals from Neil Alexander, Ben Small and Callum Richardson but Matty Warriner ensured the points were shared with a Crayke equaliser two minutes from time. 

Sam Hill hit his third hat-trick of the season in Division Four as his LNER Builders side beat Wheldrake 3-0 and Huntington FC registered their first home win as they defeated Moor Lane 6-2 with their goals coming from Shane Bogg (2) Luke Smith (2) George Huggan and Eric Balderstone.

Dunnington closed the gap on Reserve A leaders Wigginton, who were without a game, and vastly improved their goal difference,  as they hit a dozen unanswered goals past Hamilton Panthers. Rob Hart led the rout with four goals added to goals from Ross Wilkinson (2) Joe Wains, Liam Summers, Matty Phail, Olly Ellwood, Simon Castle and Andy Rose.  Copmanthorpe ended a run of four games without a win in style as they crushed Riccall 7-1, Danny Leach hit four of their tally with two from Mike Revell and one for Tom Settle. Sam Elliott snatched a consolation goal for Riccall. Huntington looked set to record a first win at Old Malton since December 2007 when they led 2-0 at the break,  both from Chris Johnson,  but the hosts hit back through Jack Thackaray (2) Adam Newall and Rob Pinder as the Ryedale side won 4-3, Ali Bell added Huntington’s third goal. Dringhouses came to life in the second half at York RI, after a goal less opening half they ran out 5-1 winners with goals from Sam Kitson, Tom Hawksby, Jimmy Clamp and Dan Clipson (2), Danny Wood replied for RI.

York St Johns moved away from the relegation zone in Reserve B following their 4-1 home win over Bishopthorpe, Graham Vickers had given Bish the lead but the students hit back through Daniel Tingay, Michael Grogan (2) and Darren Jewick. Amotherby came from 2-1 down at home to Tadcaster Magnets to win 4-2 and end a 5 match winless run. Matty Bean hit a double for Amotherby to add to goals from Danny Foxton and Nick Robinson. Aviva are still looking for their first home win of the campaign after they lost 3-1 to Fulford FC, Andy Browes, Jack Heath, and Paul Gordon were on target for the visitors with Andrew Wood getting a late goal for Aviva. Nick Daniels hit the only goal of the game as Pocklington defeated Heslington 1-0.

Reserve C leaders Selby RSSC needed an equaliser from Kyle Pool to salvage a point in their home encounter with Tockwith and despite Ricky Hutton scoring for the third game on the trot his Hemingbrough side are still looking for their first win of the season after losing 4-2 at home to Rowntrees. Stamford Bridge chalked up their sixth straight home win after they beat Poppleton 4-0, Darren Heels hit a goal in each half to add to first half strikes from Tony Downing and John Cavanagh